Health Minister Nguyễn Thị Kim Tiến talks with Thời Báo Kinh Tế Việt Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about projects to build more hospitals and provide better services for patients.  

Could you tell us about the project of building five hospitals in HCM City?

The project of building 5 hospitals in HCM City was approved under decision 125/QD-TTg in 2014. Under the project, the Ministry of Health was assigned to build two hospitals of Việt Đức and Bạch Mai branches while the Ministry of National Defence was in charge of building a hospital of traumatology and orthopedics, and the HCM City’s People’s Committee was designated to build branch of the city’s Tumor Hospital and Kid’s Hospital.

The 1,000-bed Kid’s Hospital was put into operation last year.  

The other four hospitals are expected to complete construction and be put into operation later this year.

Since opening, the Kid’s Hospital has offered healthcare services to many patients in the southern region.

The four hospitals, with 3,500 beds in total and modern equipment, will contribute to improving healthcare for local people.

 Along with the five hospitals, are there any other projects carried out with Government bonds’ capital?

In the period of 2016 to 2020, the capital from Government bonds will be used for building 8 central-level hospitals and general hospitals in the provinces of Sơn La, Bình Phước, TIền Giang, Trà Vinh, Đồng Tháp and Kiên Giang.

This year, the ministry has proposed the Government to provide funding for 5 projects, including building a tumour centre for Hospital E, expanding the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases - Phase 2, building a branch of the National Geriatric Hospital, a building traumatology and orthopedics hospital in Cần Thơ Province, and an Endocrinology Hospital in HCM City.

The projects are very important at this moment in aiming to reduce overcrowding in hospitals and improve healthcare services as well.

Central-level hospitals also act as training centres for health workers of hospitals in cities and provinces.

What should the healthcare sector do to develop further and realise the priority of caring for people’s health?

To develop the healthcare sector, it is necessary to further provide services from grass-roots hospitals and clinics people can easily access good services and ensure social welfare.

Some basic solutions are to expand community healthcare across the country, provide medicines and services suitable with the financial capability of the State budget, medical insurance fund and people, and reform financial mechanisms such as offer self-dependant financial status to hospitals, and to apply a hospital management model as public-benefit business.

Besides, it is essential to promote medical insurance provided to all people, especially the poor and elderly. — VNS